Africa is grappling with a severe outbreak of Ebola, a highly infectious and deadly disease that has caught the attention of the global health community. The United Nations Central Emergency Fund has allocated $60 million to accelerate the response to this outbreak.
On May 24, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus took to social media to express his concerns, stating that the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has reported over 900 suspected cases of Ebola, with 101 confirmed cases.
Tedros also noted that the WHO’s Emergency Committee has unanimously agreed that the Ebola outbreak constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), but it is not a global pandemic. The risk of the outbreak spreading at the national and regional levels is high, but the risk of it spreading globally is low.
China has established a multi-dimensional defense system to prevent the spread of Ebola, from port inspection to clinical warning. Currently, the overall threat to China is still considered low. The Chinese Foreign Ministry has stated that there are no suspected cases of Ebola among Chinese citizens.
On May 23, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a notice stating that, to control the risk of Ebola, individuals who have recently traveled to the DRC and Uganda will be required to undergo 21 days of self-health monitoring.
If symptoms such as fever, fatigue, headache, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, or unexplained bleeding occur, individuals should seek medical attention immediately. Before seeking medical attention, individuals should contact their local CDC or community health service center for professional guidance. If individuals choose to seek medical attention on their own, they should avoid taking public transportation and take personal protective measures to avoid contact with others. When seeking medical attention, individuals should inform their doctor of their travel history and any potential contact with the virus.
Medical institutions at all levels should be vigilant when treating patients with symptoms such as fever, fatigue, headache, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, or unexplained bleeding. Doctors should ask patients about their travel history, residence, and potential contact with the virus. If patients have recently traveled to the DRC or Uganda, medical institutions should report this to the hospital’s public health department and local CDC.
According to the General Administration of Customs, individuals who have recently traveled to the DRC and Uganda and are experiencing symptoms such as fever or bleeding must declare this when entering the country. Customs will conduct strict health inspections and disinfection of transportation vehicles, containers, and luggage from these countries.
Publicly available data shows that Ebola can cause severe bleeding and organ damage, with a mortality rate of 50-90%. The virus is primarily spread through contact with infected bodily fluids, such as blood, sweat, and saliva.
Earlier this month, the WHO declared that the Ebola outbreak in the DRC and Uganda constitutes a PHEIC, the highest level of alert in the WHO’s International Health Regulations. This declaration triggers a coordinated international response, including border control measures and vaccine distribution.
Since the implementation of the International Health Regulations in 2005, the WHO has declared eight PHEICs, including the H1N1 pandemic, the West African Ebola outbreak, the Zika virus outbreak, the DRC Ebola outbreak, the monkeypox outbreak, the polio outbreak, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
This is the 17th Ebola outbreak in the DRC since the virus was first discovered in 1976. The country has the most experience in responding to Ebola outbreaks and has a highly sensitive monitoring system.
Analysts point out that the frequent outbreaks of Ebola in the DRC are due to a combination of factors, including the country’s ecological environment, conflict, and medical challenges. The country’s vast tropical rainforests are home to fruit bats, the primary host of the Ebola virus. Local residents often come into contact with infected animals or their bodily fluids, increasing the risk of transmission.
The current outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, which was confirmed by the DRC’s National Institute of Biomedical Research. The first suspected case was a nurse who died in April after experiencing symptoms such as fever, bleeding, vomiting, and severe fatigue.
The Ebola virus family is large, and different outbreaks may be caused by different strains, making it challenging for medical personnel to respond to new outbreaks. The frequent sharing of unsterilized medical equipment and inadequate laboratory protection can also lead to the spread of the virus within hospitals, putting medical personnel at risk.
The outbreak is primarily occurring in areas affected by conflict, poverty, and population movement, making it difficult to conduct prevention and control work at the grassroots level. Last year, the security situation in the DRC deteriorated, with violent conflicts, armed attacks, and kidnappings targeting Chinese citizens and enterprises.
The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) stated that the affected areas include cities and regions with high population mobility and unstable security situations, making it challenging to track close contacts, prevent infection, and control the outbreak. The risk of the outbreak spreading to neighboring countries, including Uganda and South Sudan, is also high.
